Come Together, Right Now, Over Me
Dear Kris,
I don't know how many times I've seen you and the band perform Come Together (let's just call it "a lot"), and I don't really understand most of the lyrics to that song, but just about every time you sing "Come together, right now, over me" I think to myself, "You know what? We really have."
Initially, we came together as individual fans, most of us never having met each other, but sharing a common appreciation for your music. We each have our own story about when we 'discovered' you, but in the end you had us all hooked.
We came together through Twitter, or KrisTogether or KrisAllenAddicts or FourteenPlums, or another online site to talk about your music, to share links to interviews and videos, to speculate about the music you would make.
We came together to listen to the premiere of "Live Like We're Dying" on Z100 last fall. We were excited for you to release your first song and we were ready to do what we could to support it.
We came together to learn more than we ever thought we'd need to know about how radio works... formats, spins, add dates, you name it. Some of us found that the numbers spoke to our inner math geek, and developed a bit of an obsession with tracking the progress of your songs.
And then something interesting happened. At some point, we really came together.
We came together at your shows.... the holiday shows, shows in the Bahamas, Benton, San Diego, Atlantic City, Conway, and many more, turning those online friendships into real ones.
We came together to enable each other to go to as many shows as possible, offering tickets, transportation, a place to crash. Not only could we experience your music, but we could experience it together. You know all those shows where you keep seeing the same faces over and over again? That was your music and your passion bringing us together.
We came together to donate thousands of dollars for Haiti relief, Heifer International, Blackbird Academy, and more because your spirit of giving back inspired us to do the same.
We came together as somewhat separate groups of fans and formed Little Pawns, because no matter where we got our start following your career, we realize that there's strength in numbers and we can do so much more if we work together.
You're very quick to thank us for our support, but you deserve our thanks. Thank you for your music and your passion for performing. Thank you for being a man we can all admire. Thank you for being so open and real with your fans. Thank you for surrounding yourself with people like Cale, Torres, Andrew, Ryland, Lizzie, Steve, and the rest of your crew, who have treated us so well. But most importantly, thank you for the permanent changes you've made in our lives through the friends and memories this amazing year has brought. We've seen new places, discovered or re-discovered new artists, laughed til we cried, cried til we laughed, learned from each other, and accomplished some pretty amazing things. We came together, over you, and we can't thank you enough. We can't wait to see what the next year will bring.
Love,
Your Fans
P.S. For many of us, your concert at Valparaiso University was our last show, and therefore our last chance to meet up with new friends. When we had the chance for some post-show Karaoke, it only seemed appropriate that this happen:
(audio and picture credits to @subeeDC and @bglbayley)
I don't know how many times I've seen you and the band perform Come Together (let's just call it "a lot"), and I don't really understand most of the lyrics to that song, but just about every time you sing "Come together, right now, over me" I think to myself, "You know what? We really have."
Initially, we came together as individual fans, most of us never having met each other, but sharing a common appreciation for your music. We each have our own story about when we 'discovered' you, but in the end you had us all hooked.
We came together through Twitter, or KrisTogether or KrisAllenAddicts or FourteenPlums, or another online site to talk about your music, to share links to interviews and videos, to speculate about the music you would make.
We came together to listen to the premiere of "Live Like We're Dying" on Z100 last fall. We were excited for you to release your first song and we were ready to do what we could to support it.
We came together to learn more than we ever thought we'd need to know about how radio works... formats, spins, add dates, you name it. Some of us found that the numbers spoke to our inner math geek, and developed a bit of an obsession with tracking the progress of your songs.
And then something interesting happened. At some point, we really came together.
We came together at your shows.... the holiday shows, shows in the Bahamas, Benton, San Diego, Atlantic City, Conway, and many more, turning those online friendships into real ones.
We came together to enable each other to go to as many shows as possible, offering tickets, transportation, a place to crash. Not only could we experience your music, but we could experience it together. You know all those shows where you keep seeing the same faces over and over again? That was your music and your passion bringing us together.
We came together to donate thousands of dollars for Haiti relief, Heifer International, Blackbird Academy, and more because your spirit of giving back inspired us to do the same.
We came together as somewhat separate groups of fans and formed Little Pawns, because no matter where we got our start following your career, we realize that there's strength in numbers and we can do so much more if we work together.
You're very quick to thank us for our support, but you deserve our thanks. Thank you for your music and your passion for performing. Thank you for being a man we can all admire. Thank you for being so open and real with your fans. Thank you for surrounding yourself with people like Cale, Torres, Andrew, Ryland, Lizzie, Steve, and the rest of your crew, who have treated us so well. But most importantly, thank you for the permanent changes you've made in our lives through the friends and memories this amazing year has brought. We've seen new places, discovered or re-discovered new artists, laughed til we cried, cried til we laughed, learned from each other, and accomplished some pretty amazing things. We came together, over you, and we can't thank you enough. We can't wait to see what the next year will bring.
Love,
Your Fans
P.S. For many of us, your concert at Valparaiso University was our last show, and therefore our last chance to meet up with new friends. When we had the chance for some post-show Karaoke, it only seemed appropriate that this happen:
(audio and picture credits to @subeeDC and @bglbayley)
Comment
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Comment by Susie Evans on November 9, 2010 at 5:13am -
That is awesome! Thanks Kathy!
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Comment by je5816 on November 9, 2010 at 5:08am -
This was adorable.....sorry we left before we got to hear you guys sing this awesome rendition of Come Together...although I think you could have used Kris' help to stay on tune...hahaha.....thanks for making me feel welcome...hope you all will continue to embrace new participants on the site and at concerts...although not all of made all the trips you guys did...speaking for myself....we all want the best for Kris...and will work to help him be super successful now and in the future...thanks again for all you all do....
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Comment by Patti on November 8, 2010 at 7:32pm -
Well aside from the embarrassing singing, this is wonderful. It was a magical moment. While we were singing, I thought of this letter, Kathy. So perfect! <3
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Comment by Linda Parish on November 2, 2010 at 10:31pm -
OMG, this is so beautiful and so true! I have a hard time putting words on paper and Kathy, you really captured so many wonderful things that I feel about Kris and his golden-tone voice, Kris the humanitarian, and Kris, a very humble, very real and down to earth person that has not let fame go to his head. In the news section of KAO, they wanted people to let everybody know what is Alright With Them. The thoughts that you expressed in your letter is what I was going to try and say. Thank you again and I am glad that Andy from Music Empowers passed your letter on to Kris and his family.
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Comment by je5816 on November 1, 2010 at 6:01am
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Kathy, I certainly can't say anything you and all the other fans haven't already said, but thank you for the phenomenally (is that a word?) written note to Kris. I'm so happy that Kris got it....truer words could not have been spoken. I hope that I will get the opportunity to meet you and many other Kris fans soon.
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Comment by Brenda on November 1, 2010 at 5:31am -
Thank you, Kathy, for putting into coherent words what many of us have been thinking for a while. You expressed it beautifully.
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Comment by Little Pawns on October 31, 2010 at 6:13pm -
Elle, Andy mentioned that he forwarded the letter to Kris (and Mama and Papa Allen, too) :)
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Comment by Elle Higgins on October 31, 2010 at 6:08pm -
oh god i just read this and teared up. can we give it to him?
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Comment by debbi ronnebaum on October 30, 2010 at 10:36pm -
Kathy, It is true each and every word and after meeting so many more of Kris fans, ones I have been following and laughing with for a year I agree with Connie I heard him sing it again in
Springfield and all I could think about was Yep Kris Kathy is right. Thanks for putting into words what our hearts want to shout so very beautifully
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Comment by Connie0128 on October 30, 2010 at 8:10am -
Debbi read this to us yesteday morning after the Memphis show. She go choked up reading it and we all cried - Debbi, Lisa, Barb, Martha, and me (and maybe Tom but I couldn't tell.) It still brings me to tears today. When Kris sang Come Together last night in Springfield I thought of you and this letter and all of you wonderful fans out there. Our lives are truly richer because of Kris. Thank you for putting it into words so beautifully.
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